The Dramatist; or Stop Him Who Can! Part 7

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.

_A Saloon in LADY WAITFOR'T'S House._

_LOUISA discovered reading._

_Louisa._ Heigho! these poets are wonderfully tiresome--always on the same theme--nothing but love--I'm weary of it. [_Lays down the book, and rises._] Ungenerous Neville! how could he use me so cruelly? to attempt to gain my affections, and then address another? Lady Waitfor't has convinced me of the fact,--I can never forgive him: yet, I fear I love him still--well, I'll even go examine my heart, and determine whether I do love him or not.

_Enter NEVILLE, as she is going out._

Mr Neville!--I thought, sir, I had desired we might never meet again.

_Nev._ 'Tis true, madam, and I meant to obey your commands, hard as they were, implicitly obey them--but I came hither to welcome my brother, and not to intrude on the happiness of her I am doomed to avoid.

_Louisa._ If I remember, sir, truth was ever among the foremost of your virtues?

_Nev._ Yes--and I am confident you have no reason to doubt it--though you have cause to censure my presumption, you have none to suspect my fidelity.

_Louisa._ Oh no!--I don't suspect your fidelity in the least, but when people are faithful to more than one, you know, Mr Neville----

_Nev._ I don't understand you, ma'am.

_Louisa._ It is no matter, Mr Neville--you may spare yourself any trouble in attempting to justify your conduct--I am perfectly satisfied, sir, I'll a.s.sure you. [_Going._

_Nev._ Oh, do not leave me in this anxious state!--perhaps this is the last time we shall ever meet, and to part thus, would embitter every future moment of my life. Indeed, I have no hopes that concern not your happiness--no wishes that relate not to your esteem.

_Louisa._ Sir,--I will freely confess to you, had you shown the least perseverance in your affection or sincerity in your behaviour, I could have heard your addresses with pleasure--but to listen to them now, Mr Neville, would be to approve a conduct, my honour prompts me to resent, and my pride to despise.

_Nev._ Then I am lost indeed!--'Tis to the perfidious Lady Waitfor't I owe all this--my present

_Enter LADY WAITFOR'T, behind._

misery--my future pain--are all the product of her jealous rage!--She is so vile a hypocrite, that--

_Lady._ [_Coming forward._] Who is a hypocrite, sir?

_Nev._ Madam!

_Lady._ Who is a hypocrite, sir? answer me.

_Nev._ Ask your own heart, that can best inform you.

_Lady._ Tell me, Mr Neville, what have I done, that you dare insult me thus?

_Nev._ What have you done! look on that lady, madam;--there all my hopes and wishes were combined!--There was the very summit of my bliss!--I thought I had attained it; but in the moment of my happiness, you came, crushed every hope, and baffled all my joys.

_Lady._ Upon my word, sir, very romantic,--but I thank Heaven, I look for approbation in a better opinion than that of Mr Neville's.

_Nev._ 'Tis well you do, madam; for were I your judge, your punishment should be exemplary.--But I'll waste words no more--I only hope [_To LOUISA._] you, madam, are satisfied that one of my errors may at least be forgiven, and this last suspicion for ever blotted from your memory.

_Lady._ Sir,--from that lady's forgiveness you have nothing to expect--if she consents to pardon you, I'll take care my lord never shall.

_Nev._ No--I do not hope for forgiveness--I have heard her determination; and, cruel as it is, to that I must resign;--she may be a.s.sured I never will intrude where I know I offend.

_Louisa._ Do you then leave us, Mr Neville?

_Nev._ Yes, madam,--and for ever!----May you be as blest in the gratification of your hopes as I have been wretched in the disappointment of mine. [_Exit._

_Lady._ Tyrant! I wish he had stayed to hear reason--I hope he is not serious in leaving us.

_Louisa._ You hope!--Why does it concern you?

_Lady._ Oh! no further than from that general love I bear mankind.--You forget my feelings on these occasions, Louisa.

_Louisa._ Yes, indeed--I have too much reason to attend to my own!--You'll excuse me--I have particular business--I'll return immediately. [_Exit._

_Lady._ Oh! the cause of her confusion is evident--she loves him still--but they shall never meet again--I have already sent a letter to Willoughby, which imparts a scheme I have long cherished. My lord, in his anger about my stage mania, has forgot Ennui's play; so, that there may be no bars to Willoughby's happiness, I am determined Louisa shall be his this very night.

_Enter LORD SCRATCH._

_Lord._ Here's a spectacle for a peer! Floriville is below, and has returned from his travels a finished c.o.xcomb.--I'll not give him a farthing.

_Lady._ Nay, my lord, perhaps you may be mistaken.

_Lord._ Mistaken! no,--he has travelled not to see, but to say he had seen.

_Enter MARIANNE, with a French Watch and Chain._

_Mari._ Oh, uncle-in-law! look here----I never saw any thing so elegant in all my life.

_Lord._ Whose present is this?

_Mari._ Whose!--why the sweet gentleman's just arrived from Italy.--Lord! he's a dear man!--He has promised to do every thing for me--to get me a fortune--to get me a husband--to get me a----

_Lord._ Hus.h.!.+ you don't know what you are talking about.

_Mari._ Yes, but I do, though--he has told me every thing--Lord! I have heard such things!--Come here, near--[_LORD SCRATCH gets close to her._]

get my aunt out of the room, and I'll tell you stories that shall make your old heart bound again! Hus.h.!.+ do it quietly--I will, upon my honour.--What an old fool it is! [_Aside._

_Lady._ Marianne, you mustn't listen to Mr Floriville,--for travellers may persuade you into any thing--and many a woman has been ruined in one country, by being told it is the fas.h.i.+on in another.

_Lord._ Here he comes: I see, as plain as my peerage, I sha'n't keep my temper.

_Enter FLORIVILLE._